no weed birdfeed (new house, purchase, store)

[cruschick]

Hi has anyone ever heard of "baking" the wild birdseed to prevent weeds from growing under the feeders? My friend told me that if you bake the seeds for 12-15 minutes @ 350 degrees, it will cut down or prevent most weeds from returning. I love my birds, but not the weeds!

[TinaMcG]

I have microwaved it to keep the seeds from germinating, but I have also read that's a bad idea because it transforms the fats in the seed to being unhealthy for the birds. So...I think someone else might know more. All I can tell you is, the seeds didn't sprout.

[Torrie]

There's a seed out there available for purchase that won't germinate. I can't remember the name of it, but I purchased it at a bird feed store a few years back. I'm sure if you call around someone will know where you can get it.

[esselcue]

Interestingly, most of the "weeds" you see are actually young birdseed plants. If you let them grow and then let them go to seed the birds love eating from the "real thing". Of course, you have to have an area where you don't care about wild grasses growing...but...

[shades_of_idaho]

esselcue. I never thought of this. Since we are at a new house no yard yet. I think I will try it . Incorporate just a place I can let the bird seed grow. Course the time they need it here the most there is usually a couple of feet of snow on the ground. Still an interesting thing to try. Maybe just plant a bird seed patch for them. We are rural and no manicured yards.

I used to cut a smaller tarp into a circle and slit it to go around my bird feeder pipe=stand. Then when winter was over I would peel up the tarp and toss the seed in the garbage that had fallen and rotted. Could do the same under a hanging feeder with no hole and slit. chris

[brokencrayola]

Cooking the seed takes the nutritional value out of it, and then what is the point? In fact a way to know if your seed is still good is to put some on a damp paper towel and keep it damp and it will germinate in a few days.